Coach Alejandro Sabella said the award was "very deserved", adding: "He played a great World Cup to get us where he did."

Germany counterpart Low, meanwhile, said victory in Brazil was the result of a 10-year project.

Germany were knocked out at the group stage of Euro 2004 without winning a game but have since reached three semi-finals and two finals at five major championships.

Before Sunday they had not won a tournament since tasting success in the 1996 European Championships in England.

"We've made constant progress and believed in the project," said the 54-year-old Low, who became coach in 2006 after stepping up from his role as assistant to Jurgen Klinsmann. "If any group deserves it, it's this team."

The end of a 10-year plan

Germany host the 2006 World Cup and surpass expectations, losing to Italy in the semi-finals.

Lose the Euro 2008 final to Spain.

Beaten by Spain again at the semi-final stage of the 2010 World Cup.

Beaten by Italy in the semi-finals of Euro 2012.

Win the World Cup in Brazil, beating Argentina 1-0 in the final.

Manuel Neuer,
who won the Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper in the tournament, hailed an "unbelievable" moment as the national side lifted the trophy.

"The team has done superbly, not only the players, but also the team behind the team," he said.

Captain
Philipp Lahm
added: "Whether we have the best individual players or whatever does not matter, you have to have the best team. At the end, you stand there as world champions - an unbelievable feeling."

Gary Lineker analysis

"It was a gripping tournament and I think we have the right winners. Germany performed consistently and they've got some great players. I think they are going to be around for a long time to come."

Chelsea forward
Schurrle
added: "This is the best moment of my life. I had to cry because I was so overcome. I couldn't stop it. It was always a dream to be a world champion."

Centre-back
Mats Hummels
admitted the players were beginning to think about a penalty shootout before Gotze's goal.

"I am still completely trapped in another world, physically too exhausted to be able to rejoice euphorically, but that will come," he said.

"You can only be world champions when you act as a team. We wanted to make that clear to everyone the whole time."

A record 34.65m Germans watched the World Cup final, according to viewing figures released on Monday.

The match, broadcast on ARD public television, beat the previous record of 32.57m who had watched the 7-1 semi-final win over Brazil.

Germany's last World Cup win was in 1990, when they again beat Argentina 1-0 in the final

Three of Germany's squad - Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski - play for Arsenal

BBC links

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